Yorvik - this coming Saturday - would I be mad?

[stealthsquiggle]

I was planning on doing anything but Yorvik for our (half) day in York, but DS has come home from school announcing that they are "doing" vikings, and that his teacher told them about Yorvik, and he told her that we were going to York this weekend (for a family party - it's about 300 miles away so not a casual trip) so now I am somewhat backed into a corner...

So:

• is it going to be horrendously crowded?
• is it worth paying more and not being able to use Tesco vouchers to pre-book?

I don't think it will be too bad now the main Easter hols are over but if you can't get there first thing to be at the front of the queue I would pre-book. The queue isn't usually too bad - but it's such a waste of time when you're there with dcs who just want to get in and smell dung! (Oh and it's Jorvik btw )

The crowdedness doesn't matter so much because you're in a 'time car' for the main bit which then limits the speed people get into the archaeology bit. If you're going to be there at peak time of day with dcs I would pre-book.

If it helps... we went during a holiday and prebooked quite an early slot. It was well worth it as even at that time the queues were long. We just walked straight in through an adjacent door. The children really enjoyed it.

If you want to do something different though I would highly recommend DIG. You get to dig for artefacts from all periods of history in artificial digs which are made up of pits full of tiny rubber chippings ( so no real dirt). You will go round in a very small group so your DS will be able to ask all sorts of questions. then there is also a number of sections explaining how archeology works.

DD loved it ( So did we).

Hope that helps.

[duh] on the Jorvik/Yorvik - sorry.

Thanks for advice - when is peak time of day, do you reckon? And is DD (2.6) going to hate every minute of it - I have been, but so long ago I can't remember and anyway it may well have changed.

I haven't ordered Tesco vouchers since DS has only just sprung this on me, so it sounds as though pre-booking would be wise. Which means I have to liase with my family and establish how many of them want to come too. Sigh. UN peace negotiations can be concluded more swiftly than getting my family to agree on a plan.

Dizzymac - DIG looked fun (I hid the website quick before DS saw it) but how long is Jorvik + Dig going to take us? We have committments from tea time onwards...

Jorvik is quite short - maybe an 1 1/2 hours max?? Dig took about the same I think. They are nice and close to each other so no long walk - only about 5 minutes and closest public car parks are the big M&S multi storey, the Piccadilly multi-storey and the Castle car park.

I'm stuffed either way, aren't I? And if I say no to DS then he will tell his whole class and his teacher that his meanie Mummy wouldn't let him go even though we were right there

So - we did pre-book, but actually there was hardly any queue so it would have been fine either way.

DS loved it and has taken loads of 'stuff' into school today.

Thanks all for the advice.

Glad you had a good time - that's just typical about the queue though!